Best lunch in Istanbul: a top terrace overlooking the Bosphorus

Simona Neata ✍ Marketing consultant & journalist ⋆ Digital Strategy, Social Media and Branding ⋆ Founder Simplify Media

The hotel, situated on one of the streets in the immediate vicinity of the Blue Mosque allows my gaze to roam over the Bosphorus. Above the low roofs the water line is interrupted by the elegant minarets of mosques. Then, in a blink of an eye the air explodes from the muezzin calling. One by one, the mosques are calling the faithful to prayer. And for a few minutes a solemn stillness descends over town.

I am hungry. All the roaming through town, always thinking about the next site I am going to see left me without an ounce of energy. Back in Sultanahmet, I start looking for a place to have lunch. In this metropolis of contrasts the aroma of steaming plates stops you from your track. However, to choose from dozens of restaurants calling upon you to taste their local dishes is not easy. On the other hand, I have a horror of crowded restaurants in the immediate vicinity of touristic attractions.

– Red, what if we try the little streets behind the Blue Mosque?

I stop and think. Why not? I have strolled on them yesterday on the way to the hotel. Narrow, cobbled streets that go up and down carrying you through the old houses and restaurants hidden from view.

Just a short walk from the Central Square a restaurant / cafe on the corner of a building draws our gaze. It has a terrace on the top floor and somehow I cannot resist the temptation. At the base of the stairs I stop. My feet are painful reminders of the long walks and the 5 floors we have to climb seem a daunting task. A battle of wills to overcoming the reluctance – than I start climbing.

Above, a breathtaking view opens before our eyes. From here, the city seems differently, more picturesque and mysterious. On the horizon, boats are cutting the water line, slipping slightly to shore. Mosques are emerging hypnotic while roofs made into terraces are alive with the bustle of tourists in search of places in which to serve lunch. I sit at the table and smile. It could not be a better decor for a well-deserved rest.

So here’s my recommendation: forget the hustle central square and come discover the side streets near the Blue Mosque. Order a plate of mezze, a kebab and a delicious fresh orange or pomegranates juice.

 

Then ask for a cup of tea, a Turkish coffee and a hookah and let your gaze roam free. From above, the city will surprise you with great views and if you choose to have dinner in such a restaurant, sunset over the Bosphorus is breathtaking.DSC_2852

I thought that this time, on my second visit to Istanbul, I will have time to visit it in more detail. But the city has 27 districts, being one of the largest in the world. So I have to admit that, as my steps were guided to places that pinned me in place for hours, I still have not fully come to know the city.  Oh well, one good reason to revisit Istanbul this year :).

This post is also available in: Romanian

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